Spiritual Life at St Michael's

Spirituality at St Michael’s Church of England High School: Learning to Reflect

“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky.

I believe that what people call God is something in all of us.” John Lennon

Have you ever wondered about something so deeply that you have realised it may have more than one meaning? Many of us would agree that this may be what being ‘spiritual’ means. You may have listened to a piece of music, looked at a piece of artwork or read a poem or part of a book and then made links to a wider influence or meaning. Being ‘spiritual’ mostly happens when we begin to reflect.

At St Michael’s Church of England High School, we encourage all students to reflect on the things that are most important to us in our school community. You may have a religious outlook, you may prefer a humanist approach, either way, we all have one thing in common, and that is to enjoy a common sense of well-being and fulfilment. Being spiritual can sometimes help us to achieve this.

Our school symbol, which includes the Archangel St Michael’s wings, can help us to reflect on both religious and humanist values. MOTIVATION, INITIATIVE, COURAGE and COMPASSION, HONESTY, ACHIEVEMENT, ENTHUSIASM, LEADERSHIP and SERVICE. Our school banners, classroom activities and acts of collective worship ensure that all of these qualities are reflected upon both visually and spiritually by evaluating the ways in which they have an impact on our daily lives. Spirituality and reflection can take place at any time in all areas of our school community.

At St Michael’s Church of England High School, we are fortunate enough to have a special room where self -reflection and spirituality can be developed in a more personal way. The Chapel/Reflection room was blessed by Bishop Andrew when our school was officially opened in 2011. Some of us may we wish to call this room the chapel and link its focus to Christian belief. Some may think of it as an area of reflection connected to other world faiths. Some may prefer to seek a quiet area for personal thought when we need to be alone. The room is open on a daily basis for prayer and reflection.

Whether we are religious or humanist, our core beliefs and values are underpinned through partnerships with each other and our wider community. At St Michael’s Church of England High School, we are proud of our Church of England heritage and the sense of the Christian values bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Spirituality and reflection allow for the nature of God to be seen in many ways and ‘something in all of us’.